Japan's Tokyo Gas expands in US shale gas with Chevron deal

TOKYO, April 1 (Reuters) - TG Natural Resources LLC (TGNR), co-owned by Tokyo Gas 9531.T and Castleton Commodities International, has bought a 70% stake in east Texas gas assets from Chevron for $525 million, the company said on Tuesday, as it expands its U.S. gas business.

TGNR is already the fourth biggest producer in the Haynesville shale basin and the deal would allow it to reap synergies of over $170 million during the asset's development, Craig Jarchow, the company's chief executive, said in a statement.

Haynesville's location in east Texas and northwest Louisiana is ideal for exports from liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities and projects clustered on the nearby Gulf Coast, and has investors' attention as U.S. President Donald Trump aims to boost gas exports.

Yoshihisa Yamada, senior general manager at Tokyo Gas, told reporters on Tuesday that the new investment had been under consideration since before Trump's return to the office, but that the deal is in line with both countries' common aim to strengthen energy security by boosting LNG supplies from the U.S. to Japan.

The asset is expected to produce 1.4 billion cubic feet of gas per day in 2030, he said, adding that Tokyo Gas is considering investing in LNG liquefaction in the United States but no specific decisions have been made.

Tokyo Gas, Japan's largest city gas provider, said last week it wanted to increase coordination between its LNG trading and shale gas businesses in the U.S. and expand there, as it sees shale gas as a major profit pillar in the coming years.